The 2013 chairman of the Paulding County Chamber of Commerce is bringing his experience as a longtime AT&T manager to his role leading the group’s volunteer board.

Don Barbour, regional director of external affairs at AT&T, said he has great hopes for his 2013 term as chairman.

“We are really working to make Paulding County a better community,” he said.

In his current position Barbour represents AT&T before government and community groups in 17 northwest Georgia counties, he said. He serves as chamber member for the company in each of his counties, and interacts with the governments in his areas, Barbour said. He started at this position in 2007.

Past Chairman Caric Martin said, because of Barbour’s job, he knows how other chambers are run.

“That is a wealth of knowledge for Paulding to draw on,” Martin said.

“I think the chamber will do great under Don’s leadership,” he said.

Barbour is a Marietta native who graduated from Marietta High School in 1974. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Emory University in 1978 and a Master of Business Administration degree in business management from the University of Tennessee in 1980.

Barbour has worked at AT&T and Bellsouth since 1981, he said. He worked his way up from analyst through three different management positions to his current job, according to his resume.

When Barbour joined the Paulding chamber he went straight to work. In mid-2007 he started heading the government affairs committee and did so until this year, he said.

Barbour said he is looking to help bring in new businesses and retain existing businesses.

“We are business friendly,” he said.

He said he plans to work with the staff and the board to achieve growth for the chamber and local businesses.

“A goal of mine with the chamber is to help small business grow,” he said.

During his term the chamber will be creating both a health and wellness committee and a finance committee, he said. Also the chamber will be hosting new events to help spark business in the area such as a business expo.

Barbour said the chamber is very supportive of the school system. He already has been involved in the work of Paulding County schools through being a founding member of the Paulding Education Foundation which helps raise funds for the school district.

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